New York City has everything the world has to offer, and that includes wintery weather. With snow on the horizon and rain a frequent visitor, we checked in with Eddie Khavasov of Chelsea Cobbler to tell us how to make sure our favorite shoes survive to see another day, despite the messy weather in NYC.

With over 30 years of experience, Chelsea Cobbler is the shop to visit for shoe-repair miracles. When you think that a pair of your favorite shoes can’t walk another step, make sure Khavasov first takes a peek at them before saying a final adieu.

To ensure that your shoes last you as long as possible in the wintery weather ahead, Khavasov wants to make sure you’re protecting them as much as possible which will prolong their life. For the snow, rain and NYC dirt that inevitably ends up on shoes during these upcoming months, Khavasov recommends following a simple and practical regiment to make sure they’ll make it through winter, to live a new day into the spring.

 Protecting shoes from the elements should be at the top of everyone's list this wintery season.

First, assess what kind of leather your shoes are made from. The thickness of the leather will determine the treatment that they’ll need. If you have a thicker leather, you’ll want to look for a heavier treatment, like a mink oil, to apply once a month.

If you have a thinner leather, you’ll be needing a lighter treatment, in a spray form, to apply before each wintery weather encounter. Khavasov notes that all of the shoe treatment oils and sprays work equally as well, but to make sure you’ve applied it liberally to your shoes before venturing out. Khavasov recommends adding an additional layer of the spray for thinner leathers to ensure good luck for your shoes’ protection from the elements.

Using oils to protect your shoes means that you'll get more mileage from them. 

The other point to take into consideration is keeping your soles in pristine condition. The way Khavasov recommends doing that is to put sole guards on your shoes before the weather starts to get wet. By doing so, you’ll ensure that the leather underneath will remain pristine and ready for warmer-weather days.

One imperative thing that Khavasov suggests doing is removing any taps that you might have had put on your soles and replace them with sole guards. He noted that wearing taps in the inclimate weather predisposes one to having an icy slick of residue build up on them, leading to slips and falls. He said that of special concern was those who wear taps as they get on and off buses; he has heard about many an accident befalling those who did not heed this advice.

You don't need to be on ice this treacherous to have a slip and fall.  

Hopefully these tips will keep your shoes and you in tip-top shape from now until more clement comes to visit us again in New York City. But for now, we’ll be following Khavasov’s advice so that our shoes make it through this season and into the brighter days ahead!

If you’d like to visit Khavasov in person, Chelsea Cobbler is located in the heart of Chelsea, at 196 7th Avenue, between 21st and 22nd Streets and is known to make shoes shine their brightest.